Unemployed people will get up to £2,000 in state support to found their own
businesses under new plans to help those with a "can-do attitude",
David Cameron will say today.

The Prime Minister will expand a scheme to help jobless entrepreneurs in a drive to see more than 40,000 people start companies.

Mr Cameron said it was crucial for people to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit if Britain wants to "compete on the global stage" and "build a nation where everyone aspires to great things".

Under the scheme, people will get business advice from the moment they become unemployed, rather than having to wait at least half a year under the current system.

Those who can present a credible idea for a company will get access to a mentor, as well as £1,000 in cash over six months and the offer of a £1,000 unsecured loan.

In its first year of operation, the "new enterprise allowance" has already helped the jobless to set up more than 8,000 businesses, including a dog-grooming business, a chocolate company and a tapas restaurant.

However, mentors complained that jobseekers were suffering delays in starting their businesses and costing the taxpayer needless benefits because support for entrepreneurs was not available immediately.

The scheme builds on a major theme of the Conservative Party conference, where Mr Cameron and George Osborne promised to help the "strivers" in society to get on.

Mr Cameron will say today: "I am determined to get behind people who have ideas that will work and a can-do attitude that will turn those ideas into successful enterprises.

“It doesn’t matter what your background is or whether you are out of work, if you are prepared to work hard and aspire to achieve more, this Government, through schemes like the enterprise allowance, will back you.”

Mark Hoban, an employment minister, said the scheme would help people who have "a real drive to get on in life".

The Government is due to publish figures on jobs today, after last month's figures showed a slight fall in unemployment to 2.59 million.

David Blanchflower, the former Bank of England economist, yesterday predicted "the temporary boost from the Olympics looks set to fade", adding he is "not optimistic" about the new figures.

Ministers are keen for the unemployed and young people to start businesses in order to kick-start economic growth and help keep the welfare bill down.

In a bid to help new start-ups, the Coalition is also examining an idea promoted by Sir Richard Branson to give young entrepreneurs cheap loans at the same rate as university students.

Earlier this year, George Osborne, the Chancellor, said he would "explore the idea of enterprise loans" to help helping young people who want to set up new businesses instead of entering higher education.